Big ox-ee

Big ox-ee
Female in Lancashire, UK
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kinrick:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Cless:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Faimily:	Paridae
Genus:	Parus
Species:	P. major
Binomial name
Parus major Linnaeus, 1758
Range o current an umwhile subspecies groups

Parus major corsus

The big ox-ee or bee-eater (Parus major) is a passerine bird in the tit faimily Paridae. It is a widespreid an common species ootthrou Europe, the Middle East, Central an Northren Asie, an pairts o North Africae whaur it is generally resident in ony sort o widland; maist big ox-ees dae nae migrate except in extremely hairsh winters.

The big ox-ee is a distinctive bird wi a black heid an neck, prominent white cheeks, olive upperpairts an yellae unnerpairts, wi some variation amangst the numerous subspeshies. It is predominantly insectivorous in the simmer, but will consume a wider range o fuid items in the winter months, includin smaw hibernatin baukies. Lik aw Paridae members it is a cavity nester, uisually nestin in a hole in a tree. The female lays aroond 12 eggs an incubates them alane, awtho baith paurents raise the chicks. In maist years the pair will raise twa bruids. The nests mey be raidit bi spechts, squirrels an wheasels an infestit wi flechs, an adults mey be huntit bi spur-hawks. The big ox-ee has adaptit weel tae human chynges in the environment an is a common an fameeliar bird in urban pairks an gairdens. The big ox-ee is an aw an important study speshies in ornithology.